The cover for the second Kari Hunter book is here! Behold, The Necromancer’s Knives:
Oooooh! Aaaaah! WHOOOOOOAH!
Okay, the third word is supposed to be “OH,” but if I spell it out correctly, it just looks like the “ooh.” Ooh, ah, ooh? That doesn’t make any sense. You get WHOA! We’ll all channel our inner Keanu for a moment.
Anyway, The Necromancer’s Knives will be out in the next few months and I. Can’t. Wait! You know, so I can start the whole rigamarole with the third book. We’re currently in the beta feedback stage and then it will go through edits. I honestly don’t know how long that will be, but I’ll keep you peppered with teasers and information until we get there.
So, here’s a Q&A about The Necromancer’s Knives:
- What will this book be about?
Three months after the events of The Fourth Channel, the tour for Kari’s comeback album is brought to a screeching halt when a serial killer starts targeting fans. When he sets his sights on Kari, the FBI wants her to play the bait.
Kari returns home to discover her necromancer alter-ego is one of the most wanted fugitives in the world. To ensure her safety, all she has to do is lay low and pretend she’s not the necromancer everyone’s looking for. Unfortunately, nothing about Kari screams subtlety, and her friends and family aren’t helping.
When Immortal Intelligence breaks into her house and starts snooping around, they know who she really is. They give Kari an ultimatum: become a weapon of the Immortal State or die. But she can’t allow anyone to get hurt. She’ll need to get creative to stay alive.
2. Where did the title come from?
In this book, all three of Kari’s sacrificial knives get their chance in the spotlight. We’ll learn more about all of the knives, including Rambo, Kari’s creepy monotone knife…. I’m pretty excited about that!
3. Will my favorite characters be back?
Almost everyone from The Fourth Channel will make an appearance. It will definitely be a full cast. After all, Kari did leave a few loose ends that we’ll need to tackle…
4. Is this the last Kari Hunter book? Will there be more?
There will definitely be more Kari Hunter! There’s a broader story that I’d like to tell with this series and we’ll see more of that in the second book. I’m not sure how long it will take to wrap up the bigger story so I won’t commit to a number, but we’ll definitely have more books.
5. What keeps you motivated writing Kari Hunter’s story?
The beauty of writing Kari is that, when you think she should do something, she does the opposite… and all the while, her sacrificial knives are making comments. It’s hard to get tired of that.
6. Could you write the scene where Kari meets Mikelis?
Actually, I’ll do better than just a scene: I’ve been working on a novelette for my newsletter subscribers. It will be a prequel to the Kari Hunter series told from Mikelis Priedis’s point of view and will include the first time Kari and Mikelis come face to face. If you’re interested in reading it, just sign up for my email list. Coming very soon!
7. Can we see an excerpt from the book?
Sure!
I took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m taking you outdoors, and you know the rules. When I touch you, don’t try to teach me anything, and say nothing until we’re back inside the house. One peep out of you…” I shook my head and gave the knife my most threatening glare. “I swear, I’ll devise a punishment so bad it will make the underwear drawer look like a vacation. Agreed?”
I agree! I’ll be even better than Stubby!
Not exactly setting a high bar, but I’d take it.
I reached for Longy’s handle. Black smoke and glittering particles floated up from the blade and swirled around my trembling fingers. The front of my skull vibrated from Longy’s excitement. Even Stubby and Rambo were silent with anticipation. My fingertips brushed the cool black handle for two seconds. I panicked and jerked my fingers away. But nothing happened. My mind was free of murderous details. I sucked in a deep breath and reached out again, slipping my fingers around the perfectly shaped handle. I held the knife up.
Yes! Now I am the resident stabber!
I let out a breathy laugh, releasing all of my tension. “Okay. If all goes well, when we get back you might get those presents I talked about.”
Don’t screw this up, Longy.
Yeah, we’re counting on you.
Before leaving the house, I created another protection spell so that Longy could learn the coordinates and help me if I needed it. Afterward, I wrapped Longy in a pair of hideous yellow granny panties and a couple of hand towels, and I stuffed the bundle into my bag. I was just wrapping up when Mikelis texted me to say he was waiting in the driveway.
I locked the deadbolt on the front door and started jogging down the porch steps. I hadn’t even reached the bottom when Longy let out a headache-inducing scream.
HEY YOU! HEY YOU!
I was so startled that I tripped down the last stair and wiped out, face-first, into the grass.
YOU! YOU! I SEE YOU! I SEEEEEEEEE YOOOOOOOU!
After I righted myself, I whirled around, frantically looking for an intruder, but there was no one on my front lawn. Only Mikelis was in his car, idling in the driveway. Death Radar was otherwise clear, but Longy was still screaming louder than I’d ever experienced a knife scream before.
RUN AWAY! RUN AWAAAAAAAAY!
I did. I charged back up the wooden stairs, flew across the porch, jammed my key into the lock, and rushed into the house. I was so upset that I got halfway down the hall before realizing my keys were still dangling from the front door. I had to run back and grab them so I could open the lab.
“I can’t believe you! We weren’t even outside for thirty seconds before you were screaming your presence to the world!”
Yeah, my reaction time is amazing!
I was too furious to respond. I seethed all the way down to the panic room. Rambo and Stubby were completely silent while I opened the panic room door, pulled out the drawer, and opened the cutlery box. I let my expression say it all, tossing Longy inside without explanation. I left the box and the drawer open with a clear view of the dark television screen, just so they could all think about what Longy did. The latest season of Autopsy: Special Ops? Forget it.
8. When is the book release?
I don’t have a date, but it’s getting close. If you want to be notified as soon as the book is out, please sign up for my newsletter. I promise I’m not signing you up for spam — I only use this email list for new book releases. Please sign up here: Jen’s New Books
Did I miss anything? Leave me a comment if there’s a burning question that I didn’t answer. I love hearing from you.
Jen
Jen Kirchner 